This is a little more "out there", but if you can find a device that's easy enough to use for your purposes, you could also use a current detector at the point where the line enters your house.
So you'd use inductance (I think, it's been a long time since high school physics) to detect a signal rather than actually taking the line off hook. It looks like there might even be some X10 devices out there: http://www.smarthome.com/7190.html You could probably make one with a small coil, a transitor, and a few resistors, then connect it up to your parallel port if you're feeling adventurous ;-) On Mon, 14 Jan 2008, Michael Campbell wrote: > All, > > You need to go off hook, i.w. draw a specific > amount of current from the central office to have dial tone connected to > your line. I suspect the modem needs to mechanically connect to the > line (via a relay) > in this case to start the current draw and get the dial tone applied, > and then > "listen" to the line to see if the line is in use. > > You may have to get another modem that is less intrusive in the way it > connects to the line > (i.e. non-mechanical) to avoid the click, but it still needs to sample > the line > to detect if other phones are off hook. > > If you were handy, you might be able to rig up a circuit to do this > outside your modem, > but there are another set of issues around that... > > my 0.02$, > > MAC > > On 14-Jan-08, at 12:17 AM, Fulko Hew wrote: > > > On Jan 13, 2008 3:13 PM, Daniel Allen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > >> I have a POTS line that is shared between a regular phone and a > >> modem. > >> > >> If the modem attempts to dial out when the phone's off the hook, > >> there's an audible click as the modem checks the line, sees it's in > >> use, and hangs up. > >> > >> How should I do this without the audible click? Is there an obscure > >> (or just obscure to me) Hayes command to test the line without > >> bringing the modem off the hook? Or do I want to try (yet another) > >> different modem? > >> > > > > ISTR that the modems simply go off-hook to listen for the dial tone. > > I don't know of any modem that listens for dial tone without going > > off-hook, especially since on an inactive line, its the process > > of going off hook that signals the CO to apply dial tone. > > > > Disclaimer: I am not a POTS expert. > > Mike Campbell, P.Eng. > Brampton, ON > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
